The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-20
A PENSION swINpLER.
Arrest Of Notorious Defrauder OF the Govern
nj

few days later the grand Jury OF the u. S.
Court found against him 10 indictments, en-
bodying As separate counts, and be is now
awaiting trial.
The case is a singular one. Before and
during the war McGndley was lawyer, prac-
ticing in Indiana, and at Quincy. III. Ia the
year 1854 he began 10 prosecute claims against
the Government, making pensions a speciality.
lie was very successful, and did a large and
lucrative business, but soon began a career of
crookodness unparalleled in the history OF the
Pension Bureau. He provided himself with
the records OF soldiers who were killed or died
in the service and after ascertlining that they
left no one surviving entitled 10 a pension, he
would manufacture a bogus widow aud file
claim IN her name. He would also continue 10
draw the pension OF genuine widow pensioners
long after heir dccease Many years ago 10
was discovered that McCiindley was engaged
in swindling the Government, aud United
States officers were put upon his track, but he
managed 10 Cigde them, and left Quincy for
parts unknown. soon after leaving Quincy,
Mctimdleys friends circulated a report that lac
had died ut New Orleans of yellow fever, and
for a time. the report was credited by the Gov
ernmeut officials Subsequently il was dis
covered that hcIiindley was in ST. Louis, prac-
ticing his old schemes under the name Of " L.
Carpenter a Co." This was IN the year $780,
and steps were then taken TO secure his
arrest. but before the officers arrived in st.
Louis he had again disappeared without leav
ing the slightest clew behind.
For several months General Black, Commits
siOner of Pensions has been engaged IN verify
ing the pension-fOll. with view of purgng il
OF all persons not entitled TO pension, and
also of asc raining whether pensions were
being Illegally drawn in the names OF deceased
pensioners. AS had been alleged in some quarters
During the Investigation u was discovered that
number Of widow pensioners were credited
with "A residence in Toronto, Canada, who drew
their pensions through the Chicago Pension
Agency. This fact caused him 10 look more
closely into the matter, when IL was learned
that the supposed Canada widows had at one
time been enrolled on theQuincy (lll.) Agency
before the latter was consolidated with the
Chicago Agency. IL was learned also that the
attorney in all the Toronto cases was none other
than The long lost McGindley.
Special Examiner Jacobs was provided with
exiradltion papers and dispatched TO Toronto
10 effect McGindley's capture and transporta-
tiOn 10 the United States. ltwas supposed that
he was a member of the Doodle Colony"
across the line.
On arriving at Toronto Mr. Jacobs learned
that man answering McGindleys description
had resided for some years at No 81 Jarvis
street where he MAS known as James Har-
vey,' manufacturer Of patent medicine
known as Holy Land Oil" From Toronto
McGindlcy, alias Harvey, was traced 10 Cincin-
matt, o.. aud thence TO Cleveland where all
trace of him was lost for time.
On the 22d of last month the Pension Agent
at Chicago received two vouchers for the pay
ment of pension in the cases of Elizabeth NJ
Geddes and Cathariue O'HRran. la the case of
Geddes the Pension Agent was directed tosend
the check % the p0stOtfce at Newburg, o.. and
IN the O'liaran case the check was ordered sent
10 Brooklyn Village, o., both suburbs Of Cleye-
series. The day alter these checks had been
mailed, Examiner jacobs arrived in Chicago,
and upon hearing the fact, left at once for New
burg. o., where he fOund the letter containing
the Elizabeth Nj. Geddes check at the post
office. The Ollaran letter was found at the
brooklyn Village postoihee, aud, after placing
that pOstoilice under surveillance, the Special
Examiner took up has residence in the Newburg
p0stoflice, awaiting the arrival Of Mrs Geddes,
the alleged widow pensoner
After waiting five days, an old man appeared
and presented AN order TO the Postmaster, re-
guessing that the mail addressed 10 Elizabeth
! Geddes be delivered 10 The bearer, H. b. Mason.
la compliance with the order the Postmaster
handed the letter from the Chicago Pension
Agent TO III. b. Mason, who, placing il ia has
packet, strolled lelsurely away. Just as Mr.
Mason reached the street he was confronted by
Special Examiner Jacobs, who addressed him as
McGindley, Tor such he really proved 10 be. }
aud being taken OF his guard, he unwittingly
responded 20 has name. He was put under ar
rest aud acknowledged his identity, and fully
confessed has long career OF crime Upon being
searched AN order was found on his person ad-
/ dressed TO the Postmaster at Brooklyn Village,
/ instructing him 50 deliver To III. b. Mason let
tiers addressed 10 Catharine O'lIaran.
Other documents found on him disclosed his
/ place OF residence 10 be No. 3l3 Broad way.
Cleveland, o. The above place was found 20 be
a hotel and saloon, Of which McCiindley, under
the name OF IL. B. Mason, was the proprietor
/ The place was searched and among the proprie.
tors effects was found a bogus Notary Public
seal, which had been used in executing pension
vouchers, and mass Of papers which clearly
established the fact Of McGindley's wholesale
swindles.
Besides the Geddos and OHaran cases, Nc.
Gindey's papers showed that he had also been
peTsonating widow pensioners, named Huldah
Furman, Celia Lewis, Pauline Schmidt and
/ Rachel ScantOn.
The chances for successfully defrauding The
Pension Bureau have becn reduced TO mini.
mum, and no case Of fraud or attempted fraud
VIII 20 unpunished as long as Gen. Black re.
mains at the head Of the Pension Bureau. TIC
system OF checks and guards that has gradually
grown up under the vigilant administration o.
The present Commissioner is indeed SO perfectly
adj listed that detection Of pension swinde,
/ SV1tho hiilbhk AitAuthihlithl III Jus certainty
Not only have large sums Of money been saved
10 the Government by the means referred 10
| but experience has 80 completely unvailed the
| methods resOrted TO that they are known, cOun,
ter-checked aud promptly punished.
The country owes debt of gratitude 10 thu
| Commissioners for the vigorous enforcement Of
| such measures tend 10 protect TIE Govern
ment IRON impOsture and fraud, and guard The
sacred rights of those who survive the dead
soldiers from violence and wrong. Great credit
rs also due 10 the intelligent and fearless exer
else OF delicate and dangerous duties confdcC
to the agents who are sent 10 unravol the tan
ged skein Of mystery and crime Indeed, 3,
the patient sell-sacrIficing toll of these is due
in large degree the perfection OF the system by
which the guilty are reached aud the innocent
protected
Mr.. Jacobs, 20 whose intelligent prompt and
fearless work is largely due the apprehension
OF this notable wrong -dOeT, McGindley, is al
old aud disciplined aid. His career AS Specia
Agent OF the Pension Bureau has extended Over
many years and includes many thrilling ex.
periences which will never come 30 light un
less eXhumed through others who appreciat,
the modest silence of the man who is The yet
eran OF the corps who goes where he is sem
aud unsweringiy discharges the whole duty
that falls 10 him.
Gen. kilpatrick's Body.
To body Of Gen. Fitzpatrick reached New
York from Chill, South America, last week. i
was accompanied by Mrs. Fitzpatrick and hel
daughters, Julia aud Laura. number Of Gen